e's

ng the moment I reach

hing for power-

idn't just turn heads. You made

car door s

t fitted black suit. Sunlight caught on his silver

Nor

here

cture,

ect public smile-cool,

ld imagine him

door cra

just about dou

t Jace

k from Ca

heir,

s bodyguards closed in. Reporters teetered right

in while

he hissed. "Ever

I not

f glass and polished steel. Decked out in every high-e

ts that screamed money bef

h politicians and investors itching for a handsh

too tight. "This project changes everyt

yed it off humble. "Atlanta dese

eyes land

be the fa

od. Tigh

e piped up. The tone told me not a

en a rich kid's in the room.

s, influencers, suits who'd sell their mother for a c

EREIGN

ryone waiting for

ase welcome the future of Norma

straightened, remembering every lesson in

below, daring

on. One wrong word and he'd

the mic. "G

Not a pho

It's about growth, opportunity,

s liked the sound of t

e development should last-create

app

ling. I'd been raised for this-show enough co

y from the p

Nor

ng up her tablet, sm

out the future, wh

the shift-a w

nt stiff. I

e what y

tood. "The Califor

ds-drugs, assault,

hung on my words. Now they l

tened

sues are

"Documents say your name popped up

charges. Nothing s

ur name

a hole righ

football practice," an

es don't prove I c

per hand. "Funny you say tha

second. That

oesn't

up on the projector-Monarch Lou

up, Royal Crest Ho

By now, the ques

ink

u really

nvestors

hem. "Partying isn't th

er head. "Were you

stake. The paus

voice like steel. "That's enough. This i

was no longer abou

about m

, phones out, clips

le I still had con

rest of you

le

home was

-just stared out the window. His sile

, he br

rassed thi

ead. "They came l

gave th

ndled

ooked

e off. I met his e

blink. "No. Y

a beeline for his office and poured

rs fear most?" He didn

d them ins

ll run the

"You can't cont

ou want me to apologiz

ass in hand. "No. You

ked. "

heard

's in

nece

ondered if h

rry someone becaus

ple to see

ean co

inch. "I mea

ot marrying a stranger

erit? Prove you can protect the fam

even love

n't abou

what i

. "It's about

way, teeth

able woman. Marry her.

if I

and steady. "You wo

at dangerous way only my

thing. She needs to be from Atlant

-alone in the office with a li

otte'

unted it twice-ten

ds numb as I

t. Just

t, cover Mom's nursing home

've felt

hollow, like I'd traded someth

my head-so casual, like

dn't dwell. Right now, the mon

ingy hallway-smelled like smok

y key in

I stepped i

he side. Just like t

ght, eyes red and wild. Too

he hell

cheek, stea

wrong wi

play

got of

sneered. "Nice story.

you my s

darting. Then he spotted the ban

shed, replaced wit

t's

the bag.

g money now?" His voice got low and scary. "That'

go, B

nked

PAID

rtment felt a lot

ince that hotel room, I

knew he'd do anything to find ou

to my cheek. "Wha

. "Don't p

s at

at ugly, bitter

I had a la

shift

lope peeking from my bag and he

t's

bag tighter

lose. "You hidin

my s

y? Tha

ness, no

ft right away. He gr

you're smar

go, B

he money c

break his g

PAID

elt two sizes too small-

aving that hotel, I honestl

Bruce, I realized h